• As Pretoria blames repatriation of 586 Nigerians on irregular immigration status
•Citizens heave sigh of relief as SA evacuees arrive Lagos
Michael Olugbode in Abuja and Chinedu Eze in Lagos
The first batch of 258 Nigerians from South Africa following a rising wave of xenophobic attacks targeting foreign nationals in the country arrived Lagos on Thursday after Nigerian government assisted in their evacuation.
The returnees arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos aboard a special Air Peace flight that landed at about 10:25 a.m.
Receiving the evacuees on behalf of President Bola Tinubu, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, described the evacuation as a clear demonstration of the administration’s commitment to protecting the lives and welfare of Nigerians, irrespective of where they reside.
However, pitching a different message, the South African Department of Home Affairs announced that the repatriation of 586 Nigerian nationals was because they were found to be residing illegally in the country, with the first batch of 268 individuals deported on Thursday, June 11, 2026.
According to a statement issued by the department, all those processed for repatriation were provided with Emergency Travel Documents by the Nigerian High Commission to facilitate their return to Nigeria.
South African authorities said the affected individuals had been declared undesirable persons under the country’s Immigration Act and would be barred from re-entering South Africa for a period of five years.
Meanwhile, worried Nigerians heaved a sigh of relief when the flight operated by air Peace Airlines evacuating the first batch of 268 Nigerians safely landed at the MMIA, Lagos, yesterday morning and many of the returnees were also visibly relieved that they were back in Nigeria, safe.
The returnees were received by government officials, including Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Sola Enikanolaiye.
He was accompanied by representatives of Nigeria’s mission in South Africa led by acting High Commissioner Temitope Ajayi who coordinated arrangements for their safe departure from the country.
Speaking at the reception, Enikanolaiye said Nigeria would not stand by while its citizens face harassment, violence, or intimidation abroad, describing the evacuation as a swift response to protect Nigerians caught up in the unrest.
Enikanolaiye conveyed President Tinubu’s message of solidarity to the evacuees, assuring them that the federal government would continue to prioritize the safety, dignity and well-being of Nigerian citizens abroad.
He emphasized that the decision to evacuate affected Nigerians was a necessary response to the threats posed by the recent attacks, stressing that no citizen should be forced to live in fear because of his or her nationality.
According to the minister, the operation reflects Nigeria’s citizen-focused foreign policy and should not be interpreted as a retreat in the face of adversity. He added that additional evacuation flights are expected in the coming days as authorities continue efforts to assist Nigerians willing to return home.
The evacuation exercise was coordinated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in partnership with the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria and several government agencies, including the Ministries of Humanitarian Affairs, Aviation and Health, as well as the Nigeria Immigration Service and security agencies.
Enikanolaiye commended officials of the Nigerian Mission in South Africa for their role in facilitating the operation and urged Nigerians still residing in the country to remain vigilant, obey local laws and promptly report security concerns to the mission.
He also disclosed that the Nigerian government remains actively engaged with South African authorities through diplomatic channels to ensure the protection of Nigerians and address the factors fueling the attacks.
The returnees are currently undergoing documentation, profiling and medical screening procedures. Government officials said temporary accommodation and other support services would be provided before they are reunited with their families.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding Nigerians across the world and appealed for calm as diplomatic efforts to resolve the situation continue.
Meanwhile, on its part, the South African Department of Home Affairs expressed appreciation to the Nigerian High Commission for its cooperation during the documentation and repatriation process.
A second flight carrying the remaining Nigerians is scheduled to depart on June 15, completing the repatriation exercise.
The Department of Home Affairs reiterated that all foreign nationals living in South Africa must possess valid visas or other legal authorisations permitting their stay in the country.
It urged migrants to ensure their immigration status remains compliant with South African laws and to regularise their stay where necessary.
South African Minister of Home Affairs, Leon Schreiber, said the government remained committed to enforcing immigration regulations and strengthening the rule of law.
According to the minister, deportations and repatriations carried out by the department have increased by 46 per cent over the past two years, reflecting intensified immigration enforcement efforts.
Schreiber also highlighted ongoing reforms aimed at improving border management and identity verification, including the expansion of South Africa’s Electronic Travel Authorisation system, wider adoption of Smart ID cards, and the development of a Digital Identity platform.
He stressed that while the government would continue to strengthen immigration controls, members of the public should refrain from taking the law into their own hands or engaging in acts of violence against foreign nationals.
The repatriation comes amid South Africa’s broader efforts to tighten immigration enforcement and improve the management of migration through technology-driven reforms backed by the administration of Cyril Ramaphosa.
It could be recalled that for many weeks, south Africans have attacked many African nationals living in their country, using the façade of illegal immigrants to loot their shops, destroy their businesses and killing some of them.
The climax of the violence and hostility was when the attackers demand that all African foreigners must leave South Africa by June 30, 2026.
Africans were reportedly intimidated and beaten by mobs going door to door, families were forced out of their homes, and many have left in the face of the threats.
Ghana, Mozambique, and Malawi have already repatriated hundreds of their citizens in recent weeks.
South Africa is Africa’s largest economy and hosts more than three million foreigners, just over five per cent of its population, according to the country’s statistics agency.
However, when the citizens took laws into their hands, South African police and other security operatives were lackadaisically complacent, fueling the assumption that government of South Africa tacitly supported the obnoxious acts.